D&D General Ranger as Nature Assassin?

[doctorbadwolf]

I had an idea the other day while reading my recent ranged ideas thread.

What if I combine the Ranger ideas with my homebrew Assassin class, with multiple subclasses that focus on nature, and design the whole thing so that existing Ranger subclasses can slot in.

So the main things would be:

Assassin’s Mark: As Favored Enemy, with the addition of gaining advantage on checks to search for the target, or examine it, or track it. Additionally, you gain 1 Assassin’s Mark. While HM is active, when you hit the target, you can expend one Mark and end the HM spell. When you do, the target takes scaling spiked damage.

You get a few uses per day, just like Favored Enemy.

Predator’s Movements. You can hide or disengage as a bonus action. If you gain a crit or drop an enemy with an attack you can also dash as part of the same bonus action. When you dash or disengage, you ignore difficult terrain.

At level 5, you get extra attack and Deadly Precision. When you reduce an enemy to hp equal to or less than twice your assassin level, the target is instead brought to 0hp.

From there it’s mostly movement and damage on the Ranger class, so instead of probably mostly use assassin features.

I’d probably bring back a feature for the assassin I had where they can get high ground and survey the surroundings and gain movement and exploration benefits with X miles.

Probably mix in a bit of Witcher inspired stuff to round things out.

Anyone interested in developing the idea?

 

[Zardnaar]

That was 5.0 gloomstalker lol. Or Gloomstalker assassin combo.

I assume you're talking about a blend as an archetype?

 

[SkidAce]

I've always thought the ranger was part Army Ranger anyway...so I like the idea.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

That was 5.0 gloomstalker lol. Or Gloomstalker assassin combo.

I assume you're talking about a blend as an archetype?

A class.

I've always thought the ranger was part Army Ranger anyway...so I like the idea.

Should be, yeah. I want the Ranger to be scary from the pov of anyone who earns their wrath.

 

[Zardnaar]

A class.

Should be, yeah. I want the Ranger to be scary from the pov of anyone who earns their wrath.

So how much if the assassin would you ort into it?

Familiar with BG3 Rangers?

 

[mellored]

Should be, yeah. I want the Ranger to be scary from the pov of anyone who earns their wrath.

How would that be any different from any other class?

 

[mellored]

Should be, yeah. I want the Ranger to be scary from the pov of anyone who earns their wrath.

So the Mark only works on 1 creature per short rest? But scales better?

 

[jgsugden]

I did a Predator subclass for ranger in 5E. It was designed to, in a condensed time scale, mimic the behavior of predator animals. Most of the fluff surrounding the subclass was focused on embodying the essence of predators. It never really saw play.

At third level it gained ambush hunting abilities: On the first round of combat the speed doubled. It gain an action it could use (not compatible with multi-attack) where as part of the action it cast Hunter's Mark on a target - and then made one melee attack. On a hit it dealt sneak attack damage as if a rogue of their level (regardless of weapon used).

At 7th level the ability added a save or stun for 1 round when the free Hunter's Mark was cast as part of the action. Additionally, you gained expertise in stealth (or another skill if you already had it) and creatures could not benefit from advantage on perception checks to detect you.

At 11th level you gained hunter's instincts that allowed you to capitalize upon the defenses of a creature. You gained a +1 to damage for every resistance, immunity or vulnerability your target had. You also could mix the special attack with multiattack.

At 15th you could transform yourself into a bestial version - similar to a were wolf, but with a statblock provided in the ability. When the HP ran out you reverted to your normal form (like a 2014 wildshape).

A player asked for something along these lines, but the PC died at 2nd level and never gained the subclass. NPCs had it, but it they never meaningfully used it.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

So how much if the assassin would you ort into it?

Familiar with BG3 Rangers?

No, I haven’t played it yet.

And so far I’m seeing about a 70/30 split Assassin/Ranger.

I haven’t decided if it will just be called Assassin, Ranger, or maybe Avenger or Slayer.

 

[nevin]

I had an idea the other day while reading my recent ranged ideas thread.

What if I combine the Ranger ideas with my homebrew Assassin class, with multiple subclasses that focus on nature, and design the whole thing so that existing Ranger subclasses can slot in.

So the main things would be:

Assassin’s Mark: As Favored Enemy, with the addition of gaining advantage on checks to search for the target, or examine it, or track it. Additionally, you gain 1 Assassin’s Mark. While HM is active, when you hit the target, you can expend one Mark and end the HM spell. When you do, the target takes scaling spiked damage.

You get a few uses per day, just like Favored Enemy.

Predator’s Movements. You can hide or disengage as a bonus action. If you gain a crit or drop an enemy with an attack you can also dash as part of the same bonus action. When you dash or disengage, you ignore difficult terrain.

At level 5, you get extra attack and Deadly Precision. When you reduce an enemy to hp equal to or less than twice your assassin level, the target is instead brought to 0hp.

From there it’s mostly movement and damage on the Ranger class, so instead of probably mostly use assassin features.

I’d probably bring back a feature for the assassin I had where they can get high ground and survey the surroundings and gain movement and exploration benefits with X miles.

Probably mix in a bit of Witcher inspired stuff to round things out.

Anyone interested in developing the idea?

I'd not call it ranger. Just take the sacred cow off the chopping block. But the idea is sound especially if you tie them to neutral to neutral evil Druidic Orders who want to take down monsters, hero's or any other enemies of the balance.